News

Mikal Mahdi, a South Carolina death row inmate convicted of murdering a police officer, has chosen execution by firing squad, becoming the second inmate in the state to be executed this way in recent months. Mahdi's lawyers argue for clemency, citing an inadequate trial and traumatic childhood, while prosecutors maintain his violent history warrants the death penalty.

Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology offers a promising solution to combat climate change by capturing CO2 from the air, but concerns remain regarding its energy consumption and potential ties to the fossil fuel industry. While proponents see DAC as a crucial tool in achieving net-zero emissions, critics argue for prioritizing renewable energy sources and direct replacement of fossil fuels.

Microsoft 365 and Teams experienced a global outage on Monday, October 30, 2023, impacting services like Exchange, Outlook, and OneDrive, causing disruption for businesses and individuals relying on these services. The outage began around 4 a.m. Eastern Time and persisted throughout the day, with Microsoft working to resolve the issue and restore services.

The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to lift lower court orders blocking the deportation of Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act, arguing that the president has broad national security authority to do so. This request comes amid a legal battle over the administration's use of the wartime law to deport individuals believed to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang.

Billionaire Elon Musk's AI startup xAI is acquiring his social networking platform X in a deal valuing the company at $33 billion, merging advanced AI capabilities with X's massive reach to create a platform that aims to "accelerate human progress." The acquisition comes amidst a competitive AI landscape and a strained relationship between Musk and OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman.